Plant Highlights

Ferocactus viridescens is a rare species of barrel cactus known by several common names, including Coast barrel cactus and San Diego barrel cactus. It is native to southern California and northern Baja California. Most of its native range is in San Diego County, California, where it is threatened by development, agriculture, and other alterations in its habitat.

This barrel cactus is spherical, usually wider than tall, and less than 12" in height. The flesh is bright green and arranged into several ribs covered in arrays of long spines. The cactus blooms in yellow to greenish flowers. The fruit is yellow or red.

Although wild populations are in the immediate vicinity of the coast, it can be grown inland in areas that do not experience regular freezing. It makes a great specimen for the dry coastal garden in the southern counties.

It is included in the CNPS Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants

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